The crew pressed forward, shadows weaving through the maze of cold metal corridors and stone. Every step was calculated—silent but deadly when necessary.
Argo took point, eyes sharp, scanning every corner for movement. His hand signaled left, then right, guiding the team through side passages and ventilation shafts—routes the guards wouldn't expect.
Ennis moved swiftly beside me, fingers ready on her weapon but her gaze alert for any sign of the prisoners.
De'rax flanked the rear, muscles coiled like a predator's, watching for threats and covering blind spots.
The tension was thick, but the crew moved with a quiet confidence born of countless battles.
In one narrow corridor, Argo halted, raising a finger. Ahead, voices echoed—two guards talking just outside a heavy door.
De'rax motioned for silence, then with precise timing, Ennis disabled the guards with quick, non-lethal shots. They collapsed without a sound.
We slipped inside the room, finding a small group of prisoners—some weary, others wide-eyed but alive.
I moved to the nearest, offering a reassuring smile. "You're safe now. We're here to take you home."
Elsewhere, another squad led by Argo uncovered more prisoners, hidden behind locked cells.
Fighting remained necessary, but the crew kept it tight—silent takedowns, careful maneuvers—minimizing noise to avoid alerting the entire outpost.
Bit by bit, we pushed deeper, driven by the faces of those we came to save.Inside the dimly lit room, the prisoners stirred at our arrival. Their eyes, wide and wary, flickered with a mix of fear, anger, and fragile hope.
Some sat frozen, trembling in chains, faces pale and haunted. The scars of captivity etched deep into their skin—and their souls.
One young woman clutched a tattered doll, whispering prayers she barely remembered. She flinched when I reached out, but didn't pull away.
Others scowled, mistrust burning in their eyes. "Why should we believe you're any better than Grib's men?" one growled, voice rough from disuse.
De'rax knelt beside them, voice steady and kind. "Because we are not here to take, but to give back freedom."
Slowly, the walls around them cracked. Hope flickered in their eyes, fragile but growing.
Elsewhere, small groups whispered among themselves, exchanging wary glances—but a silent understanding began to spread.
"This is only the beginning," I told them softly. "There are others waiting. We'll bring them all home."
The crew prepared to move, hearts heavy but determined.
Ahead lay the final section—the fortress within the fortress.
Argo's voice cut through the tension. "This is the heart of the outpost. The guards here are tougher, better equipped. These prisoners… they're the ones the captors value most."
Ennis checked her weapons with a grim set to her jaw. "We're walking into the lion's den."
De'rax's eyes burned with quiet fire. "We fight for them. No matter what."
The corridors narrowed, shadows deepened, and the air grew thick with the promise of the battle to come.
The corridor ended at a massive reinforced door, thick and cold under our hands. Beyond it lay the heart of the outpost—the place where the most valuable prisoners were held, and where Grib's guards had doubled down on security.
Argo's sharp eyes scanned every inch. "No way in quietly. Sensors, patrols, turrets. They've covered every angle."
Ennis loaded her weapon with a grim expression. "We'll have to go loud. Fast and brutal."
De'rax stepped forward, voice steady and fierce. "This is it. No turning back. We fight for every life inside."
I took a deep breath, fingers tightening around my weapon. "For them. Let's bring them home."
With a sharp nod from De'rax, the crew moved into position.
The massive door hissed open—an invitation to chaos.
Guards poured out, weapons blazing, alarms blaring.
The battle erupted—energy blasts lighting the dark, the clang of blades, the roar of shifters unleashed.
We fought hard, every strike precise, every move fueled by purpose.
The crew pressed forward, breaking through the defenses, driving the guards back.
Inside, the prisoners watched, hope flickering bright as freedom's flame grew closer.
When the last guard fell, silence swept the room.
Breathless but victorious, we gathered the prisoners—this time, the ones who mattered most.
De'rax's voice was quiet but filled with triumph. "They're ours now."
I smiled, exhaustion and relief mingling. "We bring them home."